The Daily Chronicle

State Legislature: Working Families Tax Credit Heads for Approval

A tax credit for working families in Washington passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote April 11, with lawmakers on both sides saying the exemption for low-income earners was a long time … more

By Sydney Brown / Washington State Journal | 4/15/21

Gov. Jay Inslee hosts a press conference outside of the governor’s mansion Thursday, April 15, to announce the new “take it outside” initiative intended to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Inslee Urges Residents to ‘Take It Outside’

Gov. Jay Inslee has made a new call to action in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, asking for Washington residents to “take it outside” as much as possible as more … more

By Rick Bannan / For The Chronicle | 4/15/21 | 1 comment

Ryan Daniel Ward, 40, makes a virtual appearance in Lewis County Superior Court.

Olympia Man Sentenced on Charges Related to Two Chehalis Burglaries

An Olympia man has been sentenced to a total of 85 months in jail, with credit for time served, and 12 months of community custody after pleading guilty to charges related to two Chehalis burglaries … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/15/21

Medical personnel at Valley View Health Center examine a patient at a drive up COVID-19 testing site last year.

COVID-19 Tests Provide Crucial Clues About How to Fight Coronavirus, But They've Fallen in Washington State

Coronavirus testing got off to a disastrous start last year, putting the nation in a position of playing catch-up to the pandemic. The delay in getting widespread testing in February, 2020, left … more

Ryan Blethen / The Seattle Times | 4/15/21

Inslee Says No to Pierce County's Request for More COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

Gov. Jay Inslee has denied Pierce County's request to receive a boost in COVID-19 vaccines. Inslee sent a letter Tuesday responding to Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier's request for 55,000 … more

Josephine Peterson / The News Tribune | 4/15/21

FILE PHOTO — Desks are separated by six feet to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Winlock Miller Elementary School in this photo taken earlier this year.

Washington Students Won't Take Standardized Tests This School Year

Standardized exams for public school kids in Washington state will be delayed until the fall, state schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal announced Wednesday. Reykdal said his agency made the … more

Dahlia Bazzaz / The Seattle Times | 4/15/21

Canadian Officials Stop Truck Smuggling $3.5 million in Cocaine Across Washington Border

The Canada Border Services Agency last month discovered and seized a shipment of suspected cocaine worth an estimated $3.5 million in a truck crossing the U.S. border from Whatcom County. On March … more

David Rasbach / The Bellingham Herald | 4/15/21

Outside the front door of The Praxis Laboratory in Centralia. (John Stang for Crosscut)

Centralia Pot Lab May Be the First in Washington to Lose Its License

Data analyst Keegan Skeate agonized for more than a year about telling the state about some suspicious test results at a marijuana testing lab. In a converted 107-year-old former bank building in … more

By John Stang / crosscut.com | 4/15/21

Near-perfect weather created a crystal-clear view of Mount Rainier from Mineral Lake in East Lewis County on Tuesday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, residents of Southwest Washington can expect more clear skies and warmer weather as the week stretches on, with temperatures expected to reach 80 degrees in the lowlands of Lewis County Saturday and Sunday.

Photos: Mount Rainier Glistens Beyond Mineral Lake

4/14/21

A sign made of rock spells out Tenino in front of the City Hall building.

City of Tenino to Recoup $270,000 Lost to Scammers

Tenino will recoup all $270,000 lost to scammers last year through its insurance, the city announced Tuesday. The agreement comes after a battle between the city and its insurer, which originally … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/21

Warrant Issued for Toledo Man Accused of Violating No Contact Order

A no-bail warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Toledo man who allegedly violated a protection order issued for a domestic violence victim. Levi Gary Hunt was convicted on three domestic … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/21

Warrant Issued for Man Accused of Stealing, Returning Items From Home Depot in Chehalis

A $50,000 arrest warrant has been issued for a Tacoma man accused of stealing items from the Home Depot in Chehalis and attempting to return them. Ronald Johnson allegedly took an impact wrench, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/21

A boat is launched into Deep Lake as families enjoy a sunny day at Millersylvania State Park on Tuesday.

Anglers Hit Millersylvania State Park After WDFW Plants Nearly 2,000 Trout

Nearly 2,000 rainbow trout were planted in Deep Lake at Millersylvania State Park in south Thurston County Monday. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1,815 fish weighing … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/21

Sirens: Slashed Tires; Animal Abuse; Juvenile on the Roof; Thefts; Burglaries

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Hit-and-Run • At 11:50 a.m. on April 12, a caller reported that their vehicle was struck by an unknown vehicle in the 1300 block of Harrison Avenue a … more

4/14/21

Chehalis City Council members listen to a member of the public’s critiques at a meeting last month.

Port of Chehalis to Help With City’s Long-Term Planning

The Port of Chehalis will lend city officials a hand in developing an updated comprehensive plan largely thanks to a major sale earlier this year that significantly bulked up the Port’s … more

By Claudia Yaw / cyaw@chronline.com | 4/14/21

Peter Abbarno points to downtown Centralia while filling sacks with sand as community members prepared for storms and flooding in January.

Federal Loans Available to Nonprofits After Winter Storms

Some nonprofits in Lewis County are now eligible for low-interest federal disaster loans due to severe storms last winter. The events, spanning from Dec. 29 to Jan 16, included high winds, flooding, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/21

Three Injured in Head-On Collision in Winlock

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle head-on collision in Winlock on Monday. A Mazda driven by Rayne Alexander Moore, 27, of Winlock, on Tennessee Road reportedly crossed the center line … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/14/21

Two Charged After Allegedly Throwing Package of Heroin, Meth Out of Vehicle During Police Chase in Centralia

Two people have been arrested and charged after they allegedly threw a package of heroin, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia from their vehicle during a police chase in January. The Centralia … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/14/21

Centralia Council Declines to Vote on Second Reading of Permanent Supportive Housing Parking Ordinance

While the Centralia City Council voted down a request to delay consideration of an ordinance that would amend Centralia’s building code to reduce the parking requirements for permanent … more

By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@chronline.com | 4/14/21

Gov. Jay Inslee poses for a group photo at the Wa-He-Lute Indian School on Wednesday.

In View of Billy Frank Jr.’s Canoe, Gov. Inslee Signs Bill to Send Statue to D.C.

Steps from the Nisqually River where Billy Frank Jr. fished and facing his mounted dugout canoe, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law Wednesday to honor Frank, champion of treaty rights … more

By Sara Gentzler / The Olympian | 4/14/21